Protection assembly

ABSTRACT

A protection assembly (22) for a wing catheter (10) is described, the protection assembly having: a sleeve member (24) adapted to be longitudinally displaced relative to the wing catheter from a needle exposed position to a needle protected position; and fixing means for fixing the sleeve member in the needle protected position, wherein the sleeve member comprises a pair of submembers (26, 28) adapted to be locked together to form the sleeve member, the sub-members defining open-ended slots therebetween for receiving the wing (18, 20) of the wing catheter.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Due to the existence of transmissable diseases such as HIV andHepatitis, there are concerns regarding the potential of needle-stickinjury to medical staff when handling wing catheters.

This invention relates to a protection assembly for protecting againstneedle-stick injury by a wing catheter.

As used herein, the term "catheter" is used to denote medical andveterinary devices for the purpose of infusing liquids or medication or,alternatively, for drawing off liquid such as, for example, occursduring the donation of blood. Accordingly, the term "catheter" includeswithin its scope wing needles, cannulas and other like devices for theintravenous, intramuscular or hypodermic injection of a substance into ahuman or other animal body, or for the removal of a substance (eg.blood) from a human or other animal body.

As used herein the term "wing" is used to denote a protrusion whichextends transversely relative to the longitudinal extent of thecatheter. Typically, there are a pair of protrusions extending ingenerally opposite transverse directions from the catheter. Sucharrangements are sometimes referred to as "butterfly wings".

BACKGROUND ART

A number of protection assemblies for wing catheters have been proposed.They range from simple slotted cylinders to complex protectionassemblies.

Known is a protection assembly for a wing catheter as taught in U.S.Pat. No. 5,112,311 in the name of Utterberg. In the arrangementillustrated in FIG. 15 of this patent, longitudinally extending slotsare cut or formed in each of a pair of articulated sub-members in theform of semi-cylindrical shells. The protection assembly must beassembled on the catheter during manufacture, or at least prior to use,with the wings of the catheter being carefully extended through therespective slots as the semi-cylindrical shells are folded together.

Also known is a protection assembly according to the teaching ofAustralian Patent 650317 in the name of Becton. In this arrangement, apair of sub-members of the protection assembly are folded or fixedtogether to create a pair of longitudinally extending closed slots. Aswith the teaching of Utterberg, the protection assembly must be locatedon the wing catheter during manufacture, or at least prior to use of thewing catheter.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

This invention in one aspect resides broadly in a protection assemblyfor a wing catheter, the protection assembly including:

a sleeve member adapted to be longitudinally displaced relative to thewing catheter from a needle exposed position to a needle protectedposition; and

fixing means for fixing the sleeve member in the needle protectedposition,

wherein the sleeve member comprises a pair of sub-members adapted to belocked together to form the sleeve member, the sub-members definingopen-ended slots therebetween for receiving the wing of the wingcatheter.

The sub-members may be separate and adapted to fit together byclip-locking or snap-acting fasteners. However it is preferred that thesub-members are articulated by hinge means extending along a portion ofa common longitudinal edge. The hinge means can be affixed to eachsub-member. Alternatively and preferably, the hinge means is integralwith the sub-members.

Preferably also, the fixing means is a profile in at least onelongitudinal edge of at least one sub-member, the profile adapted toretain the wing of the wing catheter in the needle protected position.In a preferred embodiment both longitudinal edges of both sub-membersare profiled. Alternatively, the fixing means may include deformableplugs, ramps or engagement means peripherally disposed about theinterior of the sleeve member and adapted to be non-releasably engagedby corresponding means associated with the needle. The fixing means mayinclude a plurality of resilient spines adapted to engage withcorresponding spines associated with the needle to allow movement of thesleeve member to a position enclosing the point of the needle but toprevent movement of the sleeve member away from this position.

In a preferred embodiment, the sub-members include primary locking meansopposite the hinge means. The sub-members may include secondary lockingmeans at a position longitudinally spaced from the primary locking meansto resist transverse spreading of the sub-members and resultant wideningof the open-ended slots. In a preferred embodiment the locking means arelocated proximate opposed longitudinal edges of the sub-members. Thelocking means can include a variety of suitable forms. For example, thelocking means can be a contact adhesive. In a preferred embodiment thelocking means includes deformable plug means proximate one of theopposed longitudinal edges and receiving means proximate the other edgefor non-releasably receiving the deformable plug means. Alternativelyagain, the locking means can be a circlip adapted to snap about aportion of the periphery of the sleeve member. In another preferredembodiment the locking means is constituted by a snap action hingeoperable between an open position in which the articulated sub-membersare positioned apart for pivotal movement relative to one another and aclosed position in which the sub-members are positioned together andpivotal movement relative to one another is prevented.

Advantageously, the sleeve member can be assembled on the tube of thewing catheter whilst the catheter is in use.

The sub-members can take a variety of shapes and forms. They could forexample be substantially planar and hinged together to form a square,rectangular, hexagonal or other shaped tubing and in such an arrangementare adapted to conform with a needle mounting or support assembly whichis correspondingly shaped. However, it is preferred that the sub-membersare substantially semi-cylindrical shells and are articulated to eachother by hinge means having an axis substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the sleeve member.

In a preferred embodiment, one sub-member includes a generally planarsurface for abutting the patient in use, and the other sub-memberincludes a scalloped surface for facilitating manual displacement of theprotection assembly relative to the wing catheter from the needleexposed position to the needle protected position. Preferably, thescalloped surface is adapted to receive transversely extending adhesivetape in use adhered to the patient and locating the protection assemblyrelative to the patient. With this arrangement the patient canconveniently displace the wing catheter to the needle protected positionwith a single hand, thereby leaving the other hand free to applypressure to the puncture wound. For example, in a situation where thecatheter is inserted in the patient's left arm, the patient can graspthe tubing with the left hand and can pull whilst the protectionassembly is fixed relative to the patient by virtue of the adhesivetape. Hence the catheter is withdrawn and immediately protected by theprotection assembly and the right hand is free to apply pressure to thepuncture wound.

In another aspect this invention resides broadly in a wing catheterassembly including a protection assembly as defined in any one of theabove statements.

In a further aspect this invention resides broadly in a blood collectionbag or an intravenous infusion set including a wing catheter assembly asdefined above.

In yet another aspect this invention resides broadly in a method ofprotection against needle stick injury by a wing catheter, the methodincluding:

locking the sub-members of a protection assembly as defined abovetogether about the tube of a wing catheter to constitute the sleevemember;

sliding the protection assembly forward relative to the wing cathetersuch that the wings of the wing catheter enter the open-ended slots ofthe protection assembly; and

sliding the protection assembly further forward and fixing the sleevemember relative to the wing catheter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put intopractical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention,wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a conventional wing catheter;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a protection assembly in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the protection assembly of FIG. 2 in openconfiguration; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation through the annular support end of theprotection assembly of FIG. 2 in closed configuration.

BEST MODE

As can be seen in FIG. 1, wing catheter 10 has a needle 12, a needlesupport 14, and a plastic tube 16 for the infusion or withdrawal ofsubstances through the needle.

A pair of butterfly wings 18 and 20 are provided on needle support 14for abutment against the skin of a patient when wing catheter 10 is inuse. Adhesive tape may be positioned across the wings 18 and 20 andadhered to the skin of the patient to hold wing catheter 10 steady.

A protection assembly 22 in accordance with the present invention isillustrated in FIG. 2.

Protection assembly 22 includes a generally cylindrical sleeve member24. Sleeve member 24 has upper and lower generally semi-cylindricalshell-like sub-members 26 and 28 joined together at annular support end30 by a longitudinally extending integral hinge means 32. Longitudinallyextending open-ended slots 33 are adapted to receive wings 18, 20 of thewing catheter.

Upper sub-member 26 has a pair of opposed longitudinally extending edges34 and 36, and lower sub-member 28 has a pair of opposed longitudinallyextending edges 38 and 40. Longitudinally extending open-ended slots 33are defined between longitudinally extending edges 34, 38, and 36, 40,respectively, when in the closed configuration.

Edges 34 and 38 meet to form hinge means 32 at annular support end 30.Opposed edges 36 and 40 are adapted to be locked together by primarylocking means in the form of tab 42 and tab receiver 44. The opposededges 36 and 40 are also adapted to be locked together by secondarylocking means in the form of tab 46 and tab receiver 48. The secondarylocking means prevent excessive transverse spreading of the sub-membersand resultant widening of slots 33 defined between the sub-members.

The opposed sub-members 26 and 28 are of unequal length to facilitatethe inclination of the catheter and protection assembly when a needle isbeing removed from a patient.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, annular support end 30 has two halves whichare hinged by integral hinge 32. The halves may be closed by lockingtogether edges 36 and 40 to form the generally cylindrical sleeve memberillustrated in FIG. 2.

Tab 42 is resilient and has a chamfered or barbed end which is receivedwithin a matching tab receiver 44 and retained therein so as not topermit retraction. The secondary locking means are of similarconstruction.

Lower sub-member 28 includes a generally planar surface 50 for abuttingthe patient in use, and upper sub-member 26 includes a scalloped surface52 for facilitating manual displacement of protection assembly 22relative to wing catheter 10 from the needle exposed position to theneedle protected position. Scalloped surface 52 is adapted to receivetransversely extending adhesive tape in use adhered to the patient andlocating protection assembly 22 relative to the patient. Scallopedsurface 52 is shaped to facilitate manual displacement of the protectionassembly with a thumb or the like.

The protector can be made from a range of suitable materials which arepreferably durable and resilient. Plastics is a suitable material, butthe protector can also be made from a suitable metal.

In use, the protection assembly in accordance with the invention isplaced over the plastic tubing of the wing catheter. This can be donewhen the wing catheter is about to be used or conveniently when the wingcatheter is about to be removed from a patient. The two sub-members aresqueezed together to lock them together. If desired protection assembly22 can be fixed relative to the patient with adhesive tape. In thatcase, protection assembly 22 is fixed whilst wing catheter 10 iswithdrawn from the patient into protection assembly 22. Alternatively,protection assembly 22 is pushed forward over the needle point of thewing catheter as it is withdrawn from the patient. This results in thesleeve member locking over the needle point thereby providing protectionagainst needle stick injury. Alternatively, the wing catheter may havebeen provided with a protection assembly in accordance with theinvention during manufacture, the protection assembly having been placedabout the plastic tubing and the sub-members locked together duringmanufacture of the wing catheter.

It will be realised that the protection assembly in accordance with theinvention has a number advantages. It provides useful alternatives inmanufacturing processes such that the sleeve member can be located onthe wing catheter after manufacture of the wing catheter. Conveniently,the protection assembly can be assembled on the tubing immediately priorto withdrawal of the wing catheter from the patient. The protectionassembly can be single handedly deployed thereby freeing the other handof the patient to apply pressure to the puncture wound. The protectionassembly affords protection against needle stick injury from wingcatheters such as are employed with blood collection bags andintravenous infusion sets. Protection against needle stick injury isafforded not only to users and patients, but also to waste disposaloperators.

It will of course be realised that whilst the above has been given byway of an illustrative example of this invention, all such and othermodifications and variations hereto, as would be apparent to personsskilled in the art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambitof this invention as is hereinafter claimed.

The claims defining the invention are as follows:
 1. A protectionassembly for a wing catheter having a plurality of wings, the protectionassembly comprising:a sleeve member adapted to be longitudinallydisplaced relative to the wing catheter from a needle exposed positionto a needle protected position, wherein the sleeve member comprises apair of submembers adapted to be locked together to form the sleevemember, the sleeve member further comprising open-ended wing receivingmeans for receiving the wings of the wing catheter, the open-ended wingreceiving means being defined between the locked together sub-members,and the sleeve member further comprising fixing means for engaging thewinged catheter so as to fix the wing catheter in the needle protectedposition.
 2. A protection assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein thesub-members are articulated by hinge means extending along a portion ofa common longitudinal edge.
 3. A protection assembly as defined in claim1 or 2, wherein the fixing means is a profile in at least onelongitudinal edge of at least one sub-member, the profile adapted toretain the wing of the wing catheter in the needle protected position.4. A protection assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein the sub-membersinclude primary locking means opposite the hinge means.
 5. A protectionassembly as defined in claim 4, wherein the sub-members includesecondary locking means at a position longitudinally spaced from theprimary locking means to resist transverse spreading of the sub-membersand resultant widening of the open-ended slots.
 6. A protection assemblyas defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein the sleeve member can be assembledon the tube of the wing catheter.
 7. A protection assembly as defined inclaim 1, wherein one sub-member includes a generally planar surface forabutting the patient in use, and the other sub-member includes ascalloped surface for facilitating manual displacement of the protectionassembly relative to the wing catheter from the needle exposed positionto the needle protected position.
 8. A protection assembly as defined inclaim 7, wherein the scalloped surface is adapted to receivetransversely extending adhesive tape in use adhered to the patient andlocating the protection assembly relative to the patient.
 9. A method ofprotection against needle stick injury by wing catheter, comprising thesteps of:locking the sub-members of a protection assembly together aboutthe tube of a wing catheter to constitute the sleeve member, theprotection assembly including: a sleeve member adapted to belongitudinally displaced relative to the wing catheter from a needleexposed position to a needle protected position, wherein the sleevemember comprises a pair of submembers adapted to be locked together toform the sleeve member, open-ended wing receiving means for receivingthe wings of the wing catheter, the open-ended wing receiving meansbeing defined between the locked together sub-members, and fixing meansfor fixing the sleeve member in the needle protected position, whereinthe fixing means includes the open-ended wing receiving means: slidingthe protection assembly forward relative to the wing catheter such thatthe wings of the wing catheter enter the open-ended wing receiving meansof the protection assembly; and sliding the protection assembly furtherforward and fixing the sleeve member relative to the wing catheter.